We've definitely learned a ton about Windows Phone 7 Series here at MIX, but getting the full picture on multitasking has been difficult, since the OS isn't ready, no one has final hardware, and the emulator seems to behave differently than actual devices and Microsoft's descriptions. So let's set the record straight on multitasking: it's not going to happen, at least not in the traditional way. Not only have we directly confirmed this with Microsoft executives several times, but the developer sessions here are totally clear on the matter -- you don't tell 1000+ devs that they should expect their apps to be killed whenever the user switches away from them if you don't mean it. Now, that's not to say that the OS can't do multitasking: first-party apps like the Zune player and IE can run in the background, and third-party apps are actually left running in a suspended state (Microsoft calls it "dehydrated") as long as the system doesn't need any additional resources. If the user cycles back to an app, it's resumed ("rehydrated") and life continues merrily along, but if the user opens other apps and the system needs additional resources, the app is killed without any indication or remorse.If that sounds familiar, it's because it's basically a single-tasking riff on Android and Windows Mobile 6, both of which also purport to intelligently manage multiple running applications like this, and both of which usually find themselves greatly improved with manual task managers. We'll have to see if Windows Phone 7 Series can do a better job once it ships -- we have a feeling it will -- and later down the line we'll see if Microsoft decides to extend multitasking to third-party apps. But for now, just know that you're not going to be running Pandora in the background while you do other tasks on a 7 Series device -- it is a question we have specifically asked, and the answer, unfortunately, is no.
P.S. Still don't believe us? Hear it for yourself directly from Microsoft's Todd Brix:
Windows Phone 7 Series multitasking: the real deal originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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While most of the FCC's new Broadband plan has been about, well, broadband, there's also some great news for HDTV fans. We expected a few mentions about CableCARD and its future when the FCC requested comments and declared it a failure, but we're still glad to see that the FCC listened to consumer electronics companies like TiVo and Sony -- among others. The biggest news is that the FCC has asked the industry to come up with a residential IP gateway that is open and that will provide same abilities as your provider's equipment, and most importantly, it should enable the very same gear to work no matter what type of service you prefer, whether it be satellite, cable or fiber -- for example, via various gateways the same TiVo would work with either DirecTV or Comcast. But while the FCC has given the industry until December of 2012 to define and deploy these IP gateways before implementing an "appropriate enforcement mechanism," in the meantime the FCC wants to see the biggest issues with CableCARDs resolved by this Fall. The list below of immediate fixes is pretty impressive, and other than the persistent lack of video on demand support, it'll help make CableCARD a pretty respectable solution.
- Ditch Tuning Adapters and let devices with Ethernet ports communicate upstream via IP to tune SDV channels.
- If a customer has a CableCARD in their leased set-top box, it must be reflected on the bill like any other CableCARD would.
- If the provider offers a self install for leased set-top boxes, they must also allow self install of a CableCARD.
- Software shouldn't require the same CableLabs certification hardware does.
Continue reading A CableCARD replacement is due by December 2012, bandaids by this Fall
A CableCARD replacement is due by December 2012, bandaids by this Fall originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sony's VP of Realistic Movements Kevin Butler (boy, does that guy have a large business card) is at it again, this time in a video ad for the PlayStation Move. He's back from the future to thank us all for the success of the motion control device, and make a few jabs towards Nintendo and Microsoft for their efforts. Here's a few choice quotes.
- "Because real boxers don't hit like this [flails arms exasperatingly]"
- "It's also got what we in the future call buttons, which turn out to be pretty important to those handful of millions of people who enjoy playing shooters, platformers, well, anything that doesn't involve catching a big red ball."
- "C'mon, who wants to pretend their hand is a gun. What is this, third grade? Pew, pew, pew."
Continue reading PlayStation Move ad pulls no motion-controlled punches against Wii, Project Natal
PlayStation Move ad pulls no motion-controlled punches against Wii, Project Natal originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Twitter (HMXCasey) | YouTube | Email this | Comments]]>
There's not a lot to see here -- in fact, there's nothing at all to see at this point -- but The New York Times has it on good authority that Google, Intel, and Sony have teamed up to develop an Android-powered internet platform using Atom processors for televisions and set-top boxes. Dubbed Google TV, the apparent mantra seems to be making web app navigation (Twitter, Picasa, etc.) as easy as changing the channel. Joining the fun will be the peripheral casanovas at Logitech for, you guessed it, peripherals. It certainly isn't novel territory, from as far back as WebTV to as recent as Yahoo! widgets -- and from Google itself, be it Motoblur boxes or Dish Network trials -- but the proof will be in the pudding, and for now, mum's the word on any more concrete details. As they say, stay tuned.Google TV: Android-based web platform for the living room, with help from Intel, Sony, and Logitech originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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It's far and away one of the most genius concepts we've seen in the past year, and we couldn't possibly be happier for one Min-Kyu Choi. Said designer, who recently graduated from the Royal College of Art, was recently showered with laud after the above-pictured Folding Plug nabbed the gold in the Brit Insurance Design contest. Unfortunately, we're still no closer to understanding when some moneyed manufacturer will pick this up and start producing it, but hopefully this prize will reinforce its awesomeness and catch someone's eye. In related news, we're also seeing for the first time a Folding Plug version with USB ports on the exterior, which would be just about perfect for UK-based gadget junkies. Here's hoping this dream doesn't die just before reaching the conveyor belt, yeah?UK Folding Plug takes home design award, emerges in USB-infused flavor originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink |Icon Magazine | Email this | Comments]]>
This one looks to have largely gotten lost among the hubbub of CeBIT earlier this month, but it seems like Archos quietly announced a followup to its Archos 13 laptop, which is now set to debut sometime next month. Complete details are still a bit light unfortunately, but the revised model will sport that always desirably "classy look," along with an Atom D510, Windows 7 Home Premium for an OS and, presumably, a 13.3-inch display. No word on pricing just yet, but the original Archos 13 came in at an even $800.
Updated Archos 13 laptop to roll out next month originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
PermalinkArchos Lounge | Tweakers.net | Email this | Comments]]>
Remember EVGA's seven-GPU motherboard monstrosity, the W555? That experimental beast of a board just got declassified -- and given immediate launch orders. Under the new "Classified SR-2" callsign, the board's layout has hardly changed since CES (though the heatsinks certainly got a makeover) but the big news here is that each of its two CPU sockets will support those fancy new six-core Xeon processors. As you're well aware, two times six is twelve -- and since each of the Xeon 5600's cores can handle 2 threads, you're looking at the basis for a 24-threaded powerhouse for mondo multitasking performance. Factor in enough slots for 4-way SLI, CrossFireX and 48GB of RAM, and it's not hard to figure out why the red-and-black HPTX (15- x 13.6-inches!) creation commands a $600 price point. The only questions are how much a full system will deplete your wallet, and how many fuses your house will blow after pressing the power button.Correction: Just a note that Intel's Core i7-980X isn't supported here, but the new Xeon 5600 CPUs are.
EVGA Classified SR-2 fits two Xeon CPUs for 24 threads, exemplifies overkill originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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So... look. Sometimes you find yourself in a Vegas club at 3AM, holding a Windows Phone 7 Series testing device loaded up with a working copy of The Harvest, and you shoot what might be world's shakiest video of the gameplay using a nearby Nexus One. It's practically a rite of passage in this town, right? Video after the break.Update: Also, sometimes you find yourself in a Vegas hotel the day after the Vegas club, nursing your brutal headache and desperately seeking a second opportunity to film that hot unreleased game with a better camera. Video of that is after the break, too.
Continue reading Windows Phone 7 Series gaming, all up in the club (video!)
Windows Phone 7 Series gaming, all up in the club (video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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It's been a year or so since RIM announced that push APIs had become available to its Alliance Program members, and now it looks like the rest of us are finally able to get in on the action (at least those of us who are BlackBerry devs). Starting today, access comes in two packages: either BlackBerry Push Essentials (the free version) or BlackBerry Push Plus with a number of tiers that reflect different options and price points. So, what are you waiting for? If it's good enough to implement in Weather Bug Elite it's good enough for your application, right? Hit the source link to get started.
BlackBerry push framework now available to all developers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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We know, BJ Snowden is an American artist -- but since her song "In Canada" is probably on every iPod and computer up north, we have to wonder whether a proposed amendment to the Canadian Copyright act will help her finally get what's coming to her. The brainchild of the New Democratic Party's Charlie Angus, the bill would extend 1997's Private Copying Levy "to the next generation of devices that consumers are using for copying sound recordings for personal use." Proponents of the plan says that it ensures that artists get paid for their work -- essentially, the government wants you to pay upfront for the music you're likely to steal anyways by taxing your next digital audio player purchase. Of course, much about the plan doesn't make sense (it doesn't address digital video, for instance, or the computers that people use to download and store their music in the first place) but we guess we'll let the Canadian government hash that one out. This is obviously not a new idea, and it is one the courts have rejected already, but who knows? Maybe this time it will "take." Lets hope not, eh?
Continue reading Is Canada's iPod tax back? And if so, will BJ Snowden get her cut?
Is Canada's iPod tax back? And if so, will BJ Snowden get her cut? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
PermalinkArs Technica | Charlie Angus | Email this | Comments]]>
Making the rounds, are we Google? Just over 24 hours after we saw an AT&T-friendly Nexus One go on sale, along come Sprint yelling "me too!" at the top of its lungs. Today marks the day that Google's first-ever smartphone now has at least a holding place on all four of the major US carriers, with T-Mobile nabbing it first and Verizon users still waiting for that vague "spring release." Unfortunately, Sprint's making us wait when it comes to finding out an exact price and release date, but at least we're assured that both are coming "soon."Make it four: Google's Nexus One coming to Sprint originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Possibly confirming those leaks suggesting that the first volley of Droid updates to Android 2.1 would be limited to just a quarter million folks, Verizon just shot out a statement to let everyone know that the over-the-air push is "being deployed to a small number of Verizon Wireless test users tomorrow afternoon." Beyond that, no dates are given for the rest of us to get in on the action -- probably because Verizon and Motorola need to see how the first group manages before sending out the remainder -- so for the moment, just hope that you're one of these incredibly blessed "test users" and stay tuned.Droid's Android 2.1 update going to 'a small number' of users tomorrow originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Palm might be able to use a bit of good news right about now, but it looks like it may not be able to count on that coming from AT&T. As AllThingsD's John Paczkowski reports, Canaccord Adams analyst Peter Misek is now saying that Palm's still as yet unconfirmed launch on AT&T has been pushed back from its rumored April debut to June or July. What's more, Misek says that the delay isn't one of the usual variety, with AT&T reportedly citing a "long list of technical issues with the Pre and Pixi," and even going so far as to decrease its initial order size and "sharply reduce" its marketing budget for the launch. Of course, we are still taking about a rumored delay to an unconfirmed launch, but we should be hearing directly from Palm soon enough -- it's scheduled to report its third-quarter earnings after Thursday's closing bell.
Palm's AT&T launch pushed back to summer? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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What if we told you there was a way to have the svelteness and power of Dell's $1,500 Adamo for less than half the price? You'd be interested, right? That's exactly why we've been trying to get a Dell Vostro V13 in-hand since its launch a few months ago. Besides starting at $449 - our unit's configuration rings up at a higher $844 -- the less-than-an-inch-thick, aluminum clad Vostro V13 promises five hours of battery life and good-enough everyday performance. Sure, it was created for small business types, but its blend of style, performance and price had us convinced that it could be the best ULV laptop out there. Ah, but is it? We'll tell you everything you want to know after the jump in our full review.
Continue reading Dell Vostro V13 review
Dell Vostro V13 review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Numbers released by Flurry Analytics yesterday suggested that Google's Nexus One had sold around 135,000 units in 74 days (the same amount of time it took the iPhone to hit a million) -- not a staggering number by any measure. Now, we don't really have any way to assess the accuracy of Flurry's data, but we spoke with Google's team about a few things, and here's what they had to say. For starters, Google wanted to assert the idea that selling lots of a single handset isn't the company's primary goal, an idea which makes sense considering how many handsets are currently available with Android. In our conversation, Google actually called out the sales figures for the Droid and seemed eager to make the point that their game is more of a war of attrition fought on a variety of fronts. Read their statement -- and lots more -- after the break...Continue reading Google issues statement on Nexus One sales, touts Android Market's 30,000 apps
Google issues statement on Nexus One sales, touts Android Market's 30,000 apps originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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We just spent some quality time with the MIX10 build of Windows Phone 7 Series running on the same prototype hardware sourced from Garmin-Asus that we saw at MWC -- and apart from a few Murphy's Law-style demo hiccups, we loved what we saw. One thing that immediately caught our attention was the fact that lists of items "compress" slightly once you've reached their end -- something we hadn't noticed before. In general, it's pretty impressive how much attention Microsoft is paying to the finer aesthetic points of the platform, from the slight "tilts" of items that you've pressed to the 3D effects you encounter as you flip through photos. Another thing we've confirmed here is that the test units do have accelerometers, refuting an earlier rumor that had been spreading out in Barcelona -- we know this because the display auto-rotated while viewing a photo. Check out the full video -- along with a shot of the phone resting alongside its Zune HD cousin -- after the break.Continue reading Windows Phone 7 Series preview, MIX10 edition
Windows Phone 7 Series preview, MIX10 edition originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | Comments]]>On a related note, we know that Microsoft has a series of not-yet-finalized "business, technical, and content" guidelines for accepting and rejecting apps submitted to the Marketplace, and we've got a particularly interesting case: apps are being "discouraged" from using the phone's Back button. They're being so strongly discouraged, in fact, that Todd Brix -- senior director of mobile platform services product management at the company -- told us that apps can and will be straight-up rejected for using Back for anything but dismissing dialog boxes. We won't know the full rulebook until Microsoft releases it in May -- but in the meantime, don't bother making anything too controversial with those free tools, eh?
Windows Phone Marketplace can remotely revoke app licenses originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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There's hardly anything here that we didn't already know, but an unveiling date of "next week" sure catches our eye. A new report over at The Wall Street Journal confirms earlier details that were fed to us over Sprint's first-ever WiMAX smartphone, and now we're learning that the HTC Supersonic will be officially revealed to the world at CTIA next week. We've heard before that the carrier anticipates selling a 4G phone "this summer," but you can bet we'll be digging for a hard ship date and price tag when we hit the scene in Las Vegas in just five short days.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
WiMAX-enabled HTC Supersonic rumored to debut on Sprint at CTIA originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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You may now be able to choose from a wide assortment of protective screen films at Apple's online or retail stores, but it looks like that won't be the case for much longer. As iLounge is reporting from multiple sources (and we have also heard), Apple will apparently stop selling all protective screen film products starting in May. That includes both film-only products (whether they are used for protective or anti-glare purposes), as well as cases that have a protective film built into them. For its part, Apple isn't giving any reason for the move, or confirming it itself just yet, but it seems like it might not be the most popular decision if it is the case. As iLounge points out, the single most popular iPod "case" in the Apple Store right now is, in fact, a protective film for the iPod touch.
Apple said to be pulling all protective screen film products from its stores originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fewer products are more appropriately named than the Logitech Harmony series of smart remotes. They do wonderful things to take home entertainment systems, comprised of a disparate jumble of mismatched devices, and turn them into peaceful entities that work together for the betterment of your living room -- you half expect doves with olive branches in their mouths to fly out of the box when you get one. Alas, there are neither birds nor branches included with the company's latest entrants to the series, the 600 and 650 announced two weeks ago, but still they offer the best value amongst the current Harmony lineup. Can they broker successful negotiations amongst all your devices? Read on to find out.
Continue reading Logitech Harmony 650 remote review
Logitech Harmony 650 remote review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Why is this man so down? Is it the crooked hat? Or the long hours spent with the same flat expression on his face? No, the fact of the matter is that Sky's plan to outfit pubs the breadth and width of the island nation with 3D televisions has fallen flat. Yesterday LG announced that the satellite provider had purchased some 15,000 sets with the hope of hooking folks on the technology before launching its in-home service later in the year, but now the company's pulling back, instead saying that deal involves the channel selling pubs 3DTVs through a third party. And we're sure that pub owners are going to jump at the chance to buy expensive new displays and scores of 3D glasses so customers can drop them in pitchers and / or break them while playing darts or whatever goes on over there in the land of Pete Doherty and excessive surveillance. LG's statement is after the break.
Continue reading LG no longer selling 15,000 3DTVs to Sky TV, Britons breathe a sigh of indifference
LG no longer selling 15,000 3DTVs to Sky TV, Britons breathe a sigh of indifference originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
PermalinkRegister Hardware | Pocket-lint | Email this | Comments]]>
Panasonic has never needed to wait for a new studio album before putting together another major tour, the latest of which it's dubbed Touch the Future. Trading in the traveling truck exhibition for a more intimate indoor setting, the real production Full HD 3D televisions are available and on display, along with glasses, Blu-ray players plus a few other products for good measure. We took a look as soon as the doors opened in NYC (the display runs through today at the Penn Plaza Pavilion and other locations in Chicago and Los Angeles, check the schedule for 12 more cities on deck) and got an eye full of the same 50-inch plasma 3DTVs on sale at Best Buy stores around the country. One major new look for this demo was an NVIDIA PC running the 3DTV Play solution, as you can see from the pics even New York's finest enjoyed turning a lap or two of Need for Speed: Shift in 3D. The action was smooth and easy compatibility with 3D gaming on the PC should provide plenty of content while we wait for more true 3D games to hit consoles (which should ramp up after the PS3 update this summer) while checking out Blu-ray demos on a 50-inch television proved every bit as engaging this time as it did on the 152-inch CES display. Continue reading Panasonic Touch the Future Tour lets production Full HD 3DTVs hit the public stage
Panasonic Touch the Future Tour lets production Full HD 3DTVs hit the public stage originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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We get the impression that these guys are really just putting the pressure on "evil corporations" to stop grounding mountains in the everlasting search for coal, but it's not really the environmental activism that caught our attention here. Rather, it's the fact that we're 84.3 percent certain we saw these exact same characters in a Daft Punk video back in college. Seriously -- check the video out after the break and tell us we're loony.Josh T.: "Totally off the grid in regard to both power and girlfriends."
Thomas: "And now Solar Sprockets, we dance!"
Joe: "You have to go as far as Brussels to find a Devo tribute act worth its salt."
Richard Lai: "In the future, humans won't need to eat."
Paul: "Sure, they know how to capture the electricity, but do they know what to do with it?"
Justin: "In the future, all bands will play the washboard."
Laura: "Did anyone make a Beastie Boys joke yet?"
Darren: "SABOTAGE."
Richard Lawler: "This is not what Boston meant when they said I take what I find."
Continue reading Caption contest: solar suits, or the future of punishment for eco-abusers?
Caption contest: solar suits, or the future of punishment for eco-abusers? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Been to the gym lately? If not, then let this be your new motivation. What we're looking at here is a purportedly forthcoming Xbox 360 motherboard redesign that takes aim at slimming down the portly figure of Microsoft's console. Sure, there's a small chance that this diet could be the work of a scarily talented console modder, but it'd still be a near-impossible task to work in what appears to be a CPU / GPU combo chip (pictured after the break) under that greatly reduced heatsink. Note that there's also an extra SATA port at the top left corner. Perhaps this is the "Valhalla" revision that we've all been waiting for? On a related note, Microsoft is currently hiring a Motherboard Design Engineer for the Xbox 360 Console Development team, with such saucy tasks as "specifying, designing, implementing and verifying the mother-board and other various sub-system boards that make up the XBOX 360 product line." Feel free to sign up if you think you can hack out a better motherboard.Continue reading Xbox 360 'Valhalla' motherboard leaked on Chinese forum?
Xbox 360 'Valhalla' motherboard leaked on Chinese forum? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
PermalinkKotaku, AfterDawn | A9VG, Microsoft | Email this | Comments]]>
Your average whirleybird is driven by a big motor in the middle, spinning the blades one way and, as per Newton, rotating the body of the craft the other. A tail rotor counteracts the force, but a more efficient solution is to have the rotors power themselves, which is exactly how the Dragonfly DF1 works. It has tiny, hydrogen-peroxide jets on the blade tips, spinning them up without pushing the body of the helo in the other way -- though a small tail rotor is still needed to turn the craft. It's much like the tech that propelled James Bond toward his waiting DB5 in Thunderball, but unlike that jetpack this copter can fly for up to 50 minutes. It's the product of Swisscopter Americas and, while they've been playing with the DF1 for many moons now (demonstrated in a video below), the company is also working on the DF2 shown above, a rather more civilized version that seats two. The DF1 is certified for flight in the US, looks to be available for sale and, while no price is listed, they are said to be much more friendly to the environment than traditional helicopters. That'll surely add to the premium.
Dragonfly jet-powered helicopter runs on H2O2, shuns traditional tail rotors (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
PermalinkGizmag | Swisscopter Americas | Email this | Comments]]>
When you've got an entire desktop PC inches from your eardrums, it helps if the machine is dead silent... or as close to that dream as possible. That's why we're pleased that Shuttle's new XPC X50V2 -- last spotted wearing a toga -- is now on sale with a completely fanless design for silent cooling. Since CES, the all-in-one has also gained legacy parallel and serial ports (you know, for your Zip drive) and room for up to 4GB of memory, but hasn't lost any of its dual-core Atom D510 1.66GHz goodness or its school lunchbox charm. Though we haven't heard official word about US availability, Shuttle's domestic website places the MSRP at $400, and online retailers including Newegg already show the tethered touchscreen tablet in stock.Shuttle's X50V2 all-in-one barebones PC gets passively cooled, passively hits online retail originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
PermalinkSlashGear | Shuttle USA, Shuttle EU, Newegg | Email this | Comments]]>
Even as the rise of free navigation apps gives most paid competitors pause (if not killing them outright), Navigon has managed to stay well ahead of the pack with a robust, oft-updated smartphone solution, despite charging over $80 for the privilege. But now, even that last bit can change. For $30, Navigon's MyRegion gives you its premium MobileNavigator software at around one-third the price, with the simple caveat that you only get maps for one-third of the US (East, West or Central) to go with it. Should you drive out of your designated zone, Navigon will generously allow you to buy another chunk a la carte for $15; and all of Navigon's other add-ons, including the new MyRoutes feature (customized route recommendations and alternate routes) are similarly available. It's not quite as delectable as gratis, but we have to admit a certain admiration for Navigon turning software investment into impulse buy. Oh, and speaking of impulsive: Navigon's offering MyRegion for the low, low price of $25 through April 12th.Navigon chops MobileNavigator into three regions, pick any one for $30 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
PermalinkTUAW | BusinessWire | Email this | Comments]]>
Here's another thing the Desire has that the Nexus One doesn't: a second color option. We're told our Dutch buddies will soon be able to skip the default gunmetal paintjob that's shared by HTC's twin brothers and opt into the silvery casing you see above. The pictures are captioned with a note saying the silver Desire will be exclusive to BelCompany in the Netherlands, but we've found a few other retailers claiming their own exclusief. Either way, we still don't know how things will shake out elsewhere, but at least there won't be too long to wait. We've got video of the very slightly altered handset after the break.[Thanks, Miguel]
Continue reading HTC Desire shows up in slinky silver (video)
HTC Desire shows up in slinky silver (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
PermalinkEngadget Spanish | Flickr | Email this | Comments]]>
The last we heard of Samsung's BD-C6900 Blu-ray player it was up on Amazon for a pre-order -- and then it was mysteriously gone again. We're not sure whether anyone clicked the button quickly enough to get one of those into their shopping cart and onto their credit card statement back then, but even if you missed out then it is actually shipping now. At least, it is according to Amazon, which lists the thing as "In Stock." The price is still $399.99 and for that you get 1GB of integrated memory, "explosive 3D capabilities," DLNA streaming, and of course that lovely skylight to show off the spinning blur of your latest library addition -- or Netflix rental.Samsung's 3D BD-C6900 Blu-ray player now shipping, for real originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink3D-Display-info.com | Amazon | Email this | Comments]]>
We've heard plenty of chatter about something thin and sexy being added to Acer's laptop lineup, and finally the company has unveiled the Aspire TimelineX 1830T. It's under an inch thick and weighs 3lbs, with an 11.6-inch screen offering 1366 x 768 pixels and driven by integrated graphics. Acer simply lists an Intel Core 2 Solo processor, but others are reporting that it will feature a Core i5 520UM processor which can range from 1 to 1.8GHz to offer decent performance along with great battery life -- eight hours worth according to Acer, but we'll believe that when we see it. Wireless is over 801.11a/b/g/n WiFi, there's a VGA webcam in the bezel, three USB ports, and even HDMI output, making it a relatively port-heavy ultralight. What Acer is not saying is how much it will cost or when we'll be able to get our meaty paws on the thing, but we hope to learn those details soon.Update: Acer sneaked in a bunch of other TimelineX models as well: the 13.3-inch 3820T, 14-inch 4820T, and 15.6-inch 5820T, each with your choice of Core i3, i5, or i7 processors, all under an inch thick, and again offering eight hours of battery life for frugal computers. No prices on any of 'em, though!
Acer unveils its thin and light Aspire TimelineX 1830T (update: other models too!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sure, we've been pushing Microsoft hard for Windows Phone 7 Series details like copy and paste (no) and multitasking (no), but we just realized that we've never actually seen a 7 Series device... make a phone call. A little running around later and we've got two demo handsets calling each other. We're told that the little white arrow on the call panel will eventually bring up options like conference calling, speakerphone, and mute, but it's not working yet -- and one of the phones seems to think it's running on Cingular, so either time travel is an unannounced feature of the OS or Microsoft still has some work to do. Video after the break.P.S. They're just demo SIMs, but we're sure the poor PR folks babysitting the devices would appreciate it if you didn't call the numbers, okay? Be nice.
Continue reading Yes, Windows Phone 7 Series can make a phone call
Yes, Windows Phone 7 Series can make a phone call originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Could this be another example of online advertising presaging the onset of a hardware upgrade from Cupertino? Apple's ads on Australian tech pub PC Authority have been spotted displaying some rather peculiar price tags for its flagship mobile and desktop computers. Whereas Cupertino's Aussie online store lists the most affordable versions of the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and Mac Pro at A$1,599, A$1,999 and A$3,599, respectively, the above, official-looking ads would seem to disagree. Clicking on them still leads to the currently priced (and specced) machines, but looking at them suggests that -- in the absence of some major conspiracy or a splendidly random price hike -- we're getting an early peek at the pricing of the newly updated models of each of those series. The MacBook Air has jumped by A$400 so that what used to be its costliest base price is now its lowest, while the MBP has suffered a A$300 bump in cost of entry. Then again, considering the expectation that the mobile computers will get Core i7 CPUs while the Mac Pro will get all dressed up with Core i7-980X regalia, this development is perhaps not all that surprising. The major thing to take away here is that the long-awaited upgrades might finally be arriving. We're putting our piggy banks on alert, just in case.[Thanks, Matthew]
Update: We've come across some other pricing inconsistencies contained within Apple's own New Zealand site. Find out what's happening after the break [Thanks, ScottNYC].
Update 2: The prices above have been corroborated by Apple's Australia site, which now suffers from the same schizophrenic pricing as its New Zealand compatriot. You'll find screenshot evidence after the break.
New MacBook Pro, Air and Mac Pro pricing potentially leaked by Apple ads and online store (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Your hopes, dreams, and deepest desires for a keyboardless CLIQ have finally materialized today now that Motorola's CLIQ XT has reached T-Mobile shops across the country. Interestingly, yesterday's leaked documentation pegged the date, but not the price -- rather than the rumored $99.99, the XT will actually be going for $129.99 on a two-year contract. We guess that's still not bad for a bona fide myTouch 3G alternative with a 5 megapixel cam -- as long as you can get down with Blur, of course.Motorola CLIQ XT comes to T-Mobile for $129.99 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Got 50k to spend big daddy? Good, then meet Alexa from ARRI, a German company founded in 1917 that just happens to be the world's largest motion picture equipment manufacturer. Alexa is ARRI's answer to the RED ONE digital, so don't be held captive by your consumer-based experience of what a camera is or what it should look like. ARRI has a trio of cams slated for release in 2010 offering a 3.5k pixel count, 800+ El equivalent sensitivity, 1 to 60fps frame rate, electronic viewfinder and on-board HD recording. The A-EV Plus model adds uncompressed on-board recording and wireless remote control to the 16:9 aspect ratio shooting A-EV. The A-OV Plus switches things up to a 4:3 aspect and adds an optical viewfinder to the mix. The rest of the details will arrive during an April 6th launch event where ARRI will reveal the complete media, format, and what's promised to be a "super fast workflow." Until then, check a side-by-side test done by the cats over at Animation World Network pitting a prototype Alexa against a RED One equipped with a new MysteriumX sensor and software. AWN was so enthusiastic by the results of the two cams that it proclaimed, "2010 is the year that celluloid died." Jim Jannard, RED CEO, graciously responded to the test by saying, "We had expected the images to be very similar and it appears that this test confirms that." He then added the following:
Now hit the source links for the full read because the future of film looks set to become historic."We have believed, since IBC last year, that these two platforms would be the ones standing for the future. We are very proud to be in such good company. But for the moment, we tip our hats to Arri."
ARRI Alexa joins RED to kill celluloid in 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Just in case you thought Ben Heck was being caught up by his acolytes, our favorite superhero modder has come back today with the completed Bill Paxton Pinball machine. You might remember the rough version of this glorious homage to one of the world's most mediocre actors from that time we visited Ben at his home / lair. It has now been fully fleshed out, painted, spit-shined, tested, and slapped with a badge of completion. You want to see it in action? We've got video of that. You want to see how it was built? We've got video of that too. You'll find the moving pictures after the break, but don't neglect the source as it also contains photo galleries and a walkthrough of the design process.Continue reading Ben Heck completes the Bill Paxton Pinball machine, reasserts supremacy
Ben Heck completes the Bill Paxton Pinball machine, reasserts supremacy originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Now that the tablet PC revolution is upon us (for the second time in as many decades, if you'll recall), there's bound to be a few that really stick out, and a few that get left in the dust. ExoPC is doing its darnedest to be grouped in the former, and it's choosing to hold off on rushing things out in hopes of delivering a superior product to the world this summer. If you'll recall, we heard that the 8.9-inch slate would originally be out and about this month, but the company's own Jean-Baptiste Martinoli has informed us directly why the ship date is being pushed back a few months. For starters, production has been shifted from China into Canada thanks to a freshly signed deal with CiaraTech. And if you're wondering what you'll get in return for waiting just a few more months to get your hands on one, we've excellent news. Here's the good word straight from the outfit:We aren't exactly big on waiting, but we'll let that other tablet keep us company until this one finally gets its shipping papers. Summer ain't too far out, now is it?"With [CiaraTech's] help we are improving the specs: better processor, graphics, better battery life, thinner, better screen and touch panel. We should hit FCC soon. As we have more time we are adding more features in the ExoPC UI Layer (ex. an app / media store)."
ExoPC delayed till summer, getting specification upgrades to dull the pain originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Also known as the Galaxy Portal in the UK, Samsung's i5700 is today officially entering the Eclair portion of its Android existence. We got a nice leak of the 2.1 ROM in February, whose small glitches will no doubt have been ironed out in this official release. You'll need to either hook up to the Samsung neural network using their proprietary PC Studio 7 software to leech the upgrade or just buy a new handset -- it all depends on the ratio between your disposable time and income. Guess this will make the Spica that little bit more seductive to Rogers customers, who only just got the option to own the handset last week. Full PR after the break.Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Spica grows up to Android 2.1
Samsung Galaxy Spica grows up to Android 2.1 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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As of December, RealD cinemas alone served 100 million moviegoers, and even if the vast majority recycle, that's still a ton (probably several thousand tons, in fact) of plastic 3D glasses. According to a company called Ceroplast, those glasses aren't biodegradable; if so many as 10 million pairs end up in a landfill, it would result in C02 emissions equivalent to burning 50,000 gallons of gasoline. Of course, Ceroplast wouldn't be quoting statistics if it didn't have a greener solution. Under the brand of partner Oculus3D (whose co-founder Lenny Lipton is RealD's former CTO), it's presently making biodegradable polarized shades out of polylactic acid that it intends to deploy -- along with the company's proprietary OculR projectors -- as early as summer of this year. As for which theatres you should expect to see them in, well, we're still in the dark on that one.Oculus3D vies to be be the greener solution in disposable 3D shades originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Few can build 'em like Benjamin Heckendorn. Fewer still bother to try. Two college kids managed to do a bang-up job anyhow building this fully loaded, Jasper-juiced Xbox 360 laptop. With a built-in 17-inch Gateway monitor, keyboard, functioning Xbox Live camera and Wireless Network Adapter, this brick hits all the right notes -- yet remains remarkably stylish for a learn-as-you-go student project. If you agree, you can read a remarkably detailed account of how they built it at the source link, see a proof-of-completion video after the break, or even further their education by purchasing the mean machine on eBay for your very own.
Continue reading Student-made Xbox 360 laptop channels the Heck out of... well, you know
Student-made Xbox 360 laptop channels the Heck out of... well, you know originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Say it with us, southpaws: "finally!" Razer is finally taking a stand for the under-appreciated (and vastly underserved) left-hand gamer market, and while we would've given these guys even more credit for developing an all-new mouse for lefties, we'll take a redesigned DeathAdder any day of the week. In essence, the DeathAdder Left Hand Edition is the exact same mouse that debuted last September, but in left hand form. The best part? Razer's not charging a dime more for this version than the obviously more viable right handed model. Hey, guitar makers -- care to take a hint?
Razer trumpets leftie DeathAdder, southpaws raise the roof with just their left hand originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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